Preference Difference for Interior Style of Residential Space Depending on the Elderly` Characteristics and Cognitive Ages - Focused on Bedroom and Living room -Oh, Chan-Ohk;

Abstract

Housing for the elderly should be planned on the base of elder`s needs and preferences as well as their physical, emotional, and socio-psychological characteristics. This study examined the interior style of bedroom and living room the elderly preferred and these preferences are significantly different depending on their characteristics and cognitive ages, or not. This study was carried out by face to face interview with a questionnaire and 6 colored printed 3D images. The subjects were 202 old aged who lives in Busan. The interior style of bedroom and living room were classified into 3 styles; Korean traditional style, Western classical style, and modern style. The subjects made a choice their preferred interior style among three 3D images per each room and answered the reasons. Also, they answered their cognitive ages and general characteristics, and their preferences for the layout of living room-dining room-kitchen, use pattern, floor finishes, and furniture of bedroom and living room. The results were as follows; 1) The subjects preferred bed in bedroom and sofa in living room. Also, they wanted to finish the floor of bedroom and living room by using synthetic material, traditional floor paper, and wood. 2) The elderly preferred Western classical style of bedroom. The reasons were general mood such as warm, comfort, or bright, and the color. 3) These preferred styles were not any significant differences according to their characteristics and cognitive ages. 4) They preferred Korean traditional style, Western classical style, and modern style, in order. They preferred them for their general mood and window. 5) Their preferred styles were significantly different according to their housing types and cognitive ages.